US1535137A - Fluid-compressing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1925.

R. SUCZEK FLUID COMPRESSING APPARATUS I Original FiledMay 8, 1920 INVENTOR.

L A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED ,STAT-'Es PATENr OFFICE.

ROBERT S-UCZEK, 0E MELNIK, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, ASSIGNOR TO C. H; WHEELER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY. OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COMORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA'.

FLUiD-ooMPRE'ssING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 8, 1920, Serial No. 379,716. Renewed'March 21, 1925.

To all whom t may concern: j

Be it known that I, Bonr'r SUczEK, a citizen of the United States, residing in Melnik, Czechoslovakia, have invented cer- 5 tain new and useful Improvements in Fluid- Compressing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for compressing fluid in a plurality of stages' by action thereon by an ejector employing elastic motive fluid, as steam, in one stage, the condensable fluid discharged by the first stage ejector being condensed, the condensate removed and the remaining fluid, as air, being acted upon in a later stage by a second ejector, the condensable component in the mixture discharged by the second ejector being condensed and separated from the compressed fluid.

, My invention resides in apparatus of the character referred to wherein the condenser for the mixtures discharged from both stages is compact or unitary; both ejectors mounted upon the condenser structure; and my invention resides further in other features of structure and combination hereinafter described and claimed. l

For an illustration of one of the various forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, Vwhich is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of ejector and condenser structure embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, E is ejector structure of any suitable type or nature, and in the example illustrated is a tubular ejector comprising the motive'fluid expanding nozzles N, the tubular diffuser D and the suction chamber A having the suction port A1 through which enters the air or other elastic fluid to be compressed, as for example, from a steam condenser or from any other chamber or region from which the air v or other compressible fluid is to be Withdrawn. Steam or other suitable motive duid is supplied to the nozzles N through a pipe a controlled by a Valve and deliverin 1nto the chamber c with which the nozzles communicate; the steam pipe i1 communicates with the boiler or other suitable source of steam under pressure, the valve b forming communication between the pipe al and the pipe a. The ejector E is mounted upon the chest or box B of the condenser structure K, thel chest B being divided by the walls or partitions d, e and f into the four chambers g, It, z' and j, vthe ejector E discharging mixture of motive and compressed fluids into the chambery. The chambers have as a common wall the tube sheet or plate lc held between the box B and one end of the shell m of the condenser structure K. The lower end of the shell m is closed by the plate or tube sheet n, which forms a wall or closure for the lower `chest or box B1 having the partition or wall o dividing it into the chambers p and g. If suitable or desirable, there may be formed upon the chest B1 the feet or pedestals 1" 'resting upon a suitable support, not shown.

Within the shell m are the downwardly extending plates or baffles a and t, whoser lower ends are spaced from the tube sheet n;

and the upwardly extending baille or plate u whose upper end is spaced from the upper tube sheet la, these baffles or plates dividing the interior of the shell m into four passesiu which are disposed four groups of preferably vertical tubes o. Each group comprises any suitable number of tubes o, only few tubes o being indicated in the drawing for the sake of clearness. rThe tubes o are of brass or other suitable material secured by ferrules in the tube sheets 7c and n. The ferrules at the upper ends of Vsome of the tubes o are elongated to form dams to prevent entry-of water or condensate; and with some of the groups of tubes are associated drain pipes w, whose upper ends are flush with the upper surface of tube sheet 7c, whereby water or condensate will drain through the tubes fw, these latter being provided at their lower ends with seal structures such seal structure and the dam structure being described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 317,875. v

l The first group of tubes o connects the chamber g with the chamber p; the second group connects the chamber p with the chamber it; the third group connects the chamber j with the chamber and the fourth group connectsthe cham er g with the chamber z'.

rlhe aforesaid first and second groups of .of a so-called after condenser.

tubes are those of a so-called inter -con denser' or interstage condenser, while the aforesaid third and fourth groups are those These inter and after condensers are disposed within the same condenser unit or shell C;

A pipe or other suitable passage-forming member y connects the chamber h with the suction ofthe second stage ejector E1, here indicated of the type employing a radial flow nozzle with surrounding annular diffuser, the latter discharging the mixture of motive and compressed fluids into the discharge'passage z, which delivers into the aforesaid chamber j, from which the mixture passes into the tubes fa of the third group, wherein the motive fluid is partially condensed, thence into the chamber. 'g and thence upwardly through the fourth group of tubes fu, where further condensation takes place, discharging into the. chamber i and thence into the pipe or conduit jl, which delivers into the atmosphere or into any suitable chamber or region at a pressure equal to atmospheric or either greater or less than atmospheric. When, for example, the discharge is into the atmosphere or into a region at pressure higher than atmospheric, the pressure in the discharge .e from the second stage ejector is above atmospheric pressure, the pressure in the passage 2 being to suitable extent higher than the pressure in the passage jl to effect flow through the third and fourth groups of tubes and pipe y'l.

It will thus be seen that in the first and second groups of tubes there is a relatively high degree of vacuum, .while in the third and fourth groups the pressure is substantially atmospheric or greater than atmospheric.

It will be noted that both the first and second stage ejectors are secured or suppor/t-l ed directly upon the condenser unit or structure, this arrangement affording compactness and restriction of fluid paths external to the condenser to suitably small length.

Communicating with the interior of the condenser shell m is the cooling water inlet c1, the cooling water coming first into contact with the first group of condenser tubes, passing around the lower edge of the baille t, upwardly in contact with the tubes of the second group, over the upper edge of the baffle u, then downwardly in contact with the tubes of the fourth group, around the lower end of the baille s, upwardly in contact with the tubes of the third group, and passing outward through the condensing water outlet b1.

Communicating with the chamber p is the condensate draw-off pipe al1, controlled by valve e1 and delivering to any suitable chamber or vessel. For example, it may deliver through pipe f1 to a vacuum trap whose delivery side communicates with the hot well or condensate receptacle of a main or large condenser from which the ejector apparatus above described withdraws air or the like. Communicating with the chamber q ,is the draw-off pipe g1 controlled by a valve h1. When the chamber g is above or near atmospheric pressure, the pipe g1 may deliver directly into the atmosphere or into a receptacle in which the pressure is substantially atmospheric. v

As cooling liquid for the interstage condenser, water or any other suitable liquid may be employed. For example, the condensate from the main condenser from which the ejector apparatus withdraws air may be introduced at c1 as the cooling water and withdrawn at b1. Orthecooling water entering at o1 and leaving at b1 may be part of the cooling water pumped by the circulating pump supplying cooling water to the main condenser.

With substantially the same pressure of motive fluid delivered to the nozzle strifetures of the first and second stage ejectors, ofthe total motive fluid consumed by both stages, by preference the smaller portion is consumed in the first stage; by way of example merely, thirty per cent of the total motive steam may be employed in the first stage. Furthermore, the ratio of compression of the first stage is preferably higher than the ratio of compression of the second stage. lVith these relations existing, it is desirable, though my invention is not li1nited thereto, that the extent of effective condenser or heat transfer surface for the first two groups of tubes, those intervening between the first and second stage ejectors, shall or may be equal to or less than the eX- tent of condenser or heat transfer surface of the third and fourth groups through which the second stage ejector discharges.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of .an interstage condenser comprising vertical'tubes, one of said ejectors discharging through said tubes, connections fromsaid tubes delivering to va second of said ejectors uncondensed f'luid, both of said ejectors secured directly upon the top of and discharging downwardly into said condenser.

2. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structure comprising groups of vertical tubes, one of said cjectors discharging into a plurality of said groups serially related, a connection to the suction of the last of said ejectors, and a plurality of. sa1d groups of tubes serially related rcceiving dischar e from said last ejector.

3. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structure comprising groups of vertical tubes, one of said ejector-s dls'charging into a plurality of said groups serially related, a connection to the suction of the last of `said ejectors, of said roupsof tubes serially related receiving gischarge from said last ejector, said ejectors supported directly on the top of said condenser structure and discharging downwardly.

4. The combination with condenser structure comprising a plurality of groups of vertical condenser tubes serially connected, ofi

a plurality of ejectors mounted upon and discharging downwardly into said condenser structure. y

. 5. The` combination witha condenser structure, of two ejectors mounted above and directly upon said structure, a group of verl tical condenser tubes within. said structure receiving the downward discharge from o-ne of said ejectors and discharging into the other of said ejectors, a second group of vertical tubes within said structure receiving the downward discharge from said other ejector, and 4ineans for, passing cooling me- .dium into said structure in contact with said groups of tubes.

6. In combination, condenserv structure comprising an upper chest having a pair of chambers, a grou of vertical condenser tubes communicating with each 4of said chambers, a lower chest having a chamber communicating with both ofI said groups of tubes, a second pair of chambers 1n said upper chest, a group of vertical condenser tubes communicating with each of said last named chambers, a second lower chamber in said lower chest communicating with both Vfof said last named groups of tubes, an ejector discharging into one of said first named upper chambers, a second ejector having its suction connected to the second of said first named upper chambers and delivering into one of said second named upper chambers, a fluid discharge conduit communicating with the other of said second named upper cham; bers, and a condensate discharge conduit communicating with each of said lower chambers. L f' 7 The combination with condenser structure comprising a vertical condenser tube shell, four groups of condenser tubes in said shell, four chambers at the upper end of said shell, two chambers at the lower end of said shell, one of said groups of condenser tubes and a plurality communicating with one of* said 'upperf chambers and one of said lowei` chambers, the second of said groups of tubes communieating with said. one lower chamber and with a second of said upper chambers, the third of said groups of tubes communicating with the third of said upper chambers and the second lower chamber, the fourth of said groups of tubes communicating with said second lower chamber and with the fourth of said upper chambers, an ejector discharging into said one upper'chamber, a second ejector having its suction connected with said second upper chamber and discharging into said fourth upper chamber, a fluid discharge conduit communicating with said third upper chamber, and means for passing cooling water through said shell.

8. The combination with an ejector, of a condenser unit comprising a shell, end chests end chests, said second ejector discharging into one of saidlast named compartments in said one of said end chests and through said tubes into the other of said last named compartments, and independent condensate draw-offs communicating, respectively, with said compartments in said other end chest.

9. rFhe combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structure comprising conduit structure delivering to the second stage ejector the discharge from the first `stage ejector, separate conduit structure receiving discharge from the second stage ejector, and lmeans for effecting heat transfer from each ofl said conduits to cooling medium, the condensing lsurface of said second named conduit being at least as great as the condensing surface of said firstnamed conduit.

10. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structure comprising conduit structure delivering to the second stage ejector the discharge from the first stage ejector, separate conduit structure receiving discharge vfrom the second stage ejector, and means for effecting heat transfer from each of said conduits to cooling medium, the condensing surface of said first named conduitbeing less than the condensing surface of said second named conduit.

l1. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structure comprising conduit structure delivering to the second stage .ejector the discharge from the first stage ejector, separate conduit structure receiving discharge from the second stage ejector, and means for effecting heat transfer from each of said conduits to cooling lnedium, the condensing surface of said second named conduit being at least as great as the condensing surface of said first named conduit, the motive fluid consumption and ratio of compression of the first stage ejector being, respectively, less and greater t-han the steam consumption and ratio of compression of the second stage ejector.

12. The combination with a plurality of ejectors, of condenser structure comprising conduit structure delivering to the second stageejector the discharge from the first stage ejector, separate conduit structure receiving discharge ,from the second stage ejector, and means for effecting heat transfer from each of said conduits to cooling medium, the condensing surface of said first named conduit being less than the condensing surface of said second named conduit, the motive fluid consumption and ratio of compression of the first ,stage ejector being respectively, less and greater than the steam consumption and ratio of compression of the second stage ejector.

13. The combination with a plurality of ejectors,g of condenser structure comprising groups of tubes, one of said ejectors discharging into sa-id tubes, the last of said ejectors receiving discharge from said one of said ejectors and discharging into serially related groups of tubes conducting the discharge in opposite directions, and means for extracting heat from said tubes.

14. The combination with a plurality of ,.ejectors, of condenser structure comprising vertical tubes, one of said ejectors discharging into said tubes, the last of said ejectors receiving discharge from said one of said ejectors, a plurality of serially related groups of vertical tubes receiving the discharge of said last ejector and conducting it in opposite directions, and means for eX- tracting heat from said tubes.

15. rlhe combination with a pluralit of ej ectors employing condensable motive uid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater than the cooling surface of an inter-condenser.

16. The combination with a plurality of ejectors operated by elastic motive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the nozzle structure of an earlier stage ejector being so proportioned as to consume less motive fluid than the nozzle structure of a later stage ejector, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater than the cool` ingr surface of an inter-condenser.

17. The combination with a pluralit of ejectors employing condcnsable motive uid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greaterthan the cooling surface of an inter-condenser, a common shell for said inter and after condensers, and means for palssing cooling medium through said shell.

18. The combination with a plurality of ejectors operated by elastic motive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers-therefor, the nozzle structure of an earlier stage ejector being so proportioned as to consume less motive fluid than the nozzle structure of a later stage ejector, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater than the cooling surface of an inter-condenser, a common shell for said inter and after condensers, and means for passing cooling medium through said shell'.

19. The combination with a plurality of ejectors employing condensable motive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater than the cooling surface of an inter-condenser, said inter and after condensers comprising a.' plurality of vertical tubes through which said ejectors discharge, a shell common to said inter and after condensers, and means for passing cooling medium through said shell. l

20.The combination with a pluralit of ejectors operated by elastic motive fluid, of inter and after surface condensers therefor, the nozzle structure of an earlier stage ejector being so proportioned as to consume less motive fluid than the nozzle structure of a later stage ejector, the cooling surface of an after condenser being greater than the cooling surface of an inter-condenser, said inter and after condensers comprising a plurality of vertical tubes through which said ejectors discharge, a shell common to said inter and after condensers, and means for passing cooling medium through said shell.

21. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from a pressure 4corresponding to the pressure within a steam condenser to substantlally atmospherlc pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed in tan-V dem, interl and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell for said condensers, and means disposed at one end only of said shell for carrying off the entire condensate produced in said inter and after condensers.

22. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from a pressure corresponding to the pressure Within a steam condenser to substantially atmospheric pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed in tandem, inter and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell for said condensers, and means disposed at one end only of said shell for carrying olf the entire condensate produced in said inter and after condensers, the

cooling surface of said after condenser being greater than the cooling surface of said inter condenser. l

. 23. Apparatus for raising uncomlensahle elastic fluid from a pressure corresponding to the pressure within a steam condenser to substantially atmospheric pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed in tandem, inter and after condensers for said ejectois, a common shell for said condensers, and means for cooling said inter and after condensers by the same cooling medium.

24. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from apressure corres ondmg to thc pressure within a. steam con( enser to substantlally atmosphemc pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed in tandem, inter and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell for said condensers, a condensate drain for the interstage condenser, and a separate condensate drain for the after condenser.

2. Apparatus for raising uncondensable elastic fluid from a pressure corresponding to the pressure within a steam condenser to substantially atmospheric pressure, consisting of only two ejectors disposed in tandem, inter and after condensers for said ejectors, a common shell for said condensers, a condensate drain for the interstage condenser, a separate condensate drain for the after condenser, and a discharge outlet from said after condenser independent of said second drain for discharging the compressed uncondensed Huid to substantially atmospheric pressure.

2G. A combined condenser and ejector unit comprising a single condenser unit containing inter and after condensers, ejectors mounted upon said condenser unit, one of said ejectors discharging into said intercondenser, a connection from said inter-condenser to the suction of a second ot' said ej ectors, and saidsecond ejector discharging into said after condenser, and separate condensate draw-olfs for carrying away the condensate from said inte-r and after condensers.

27. A combined condenser and ejector unit comprising a single condenser unit containing inter and after condensers, ejectors mounted upon said condenser unit, one of said ejectors discharging into said intercondenscr, a connection from said interconde-nser to the suction of a second of said ejectors7 said second ejector discharging into said after condenser, and means for drawing ofi the condensate from said inter-condenser indcpendcni-ly of the condensate from said after condenser.

28. A con'ibined condenser and ejector unit comjnising a single condenser unit containing inter and after condensers, ejectors mounted upon said condenser unit', one of said ejectols discharging into .said intercondenser, a connection from said inter-condenser to the suction of a second ot said ejectors, said second ejector discharging into said after condenser, means for drawing otl` the condensate from said inter-condenser independently of the condensate from said after condenser, and means for discharging the compressed elastic fluid from said after condenser through an independent passage.

29. The combination with a condenser shell, of inter and after condensers therein, tube sheets forming end closures for said. shell, a plurality ofl groups ot tubes extending through said shell and through said sheets, an end chest on said shell divided into compartments, ejectors connected in tandem with each other and with said inter and after condensers through the compartments of said end chest, another end chest on said shell divided into independent .compartments, and inde-pendent condensate drawotfs communicating with said compartments.

30. The combination with a condenser shell, of inter and after condensers therein, each of said condensers comprising aplural.- ity of tubes extending through said shell,

chests on opposite ends of said shells having compartments communicating with said tubes and connecting them in tandem with each other, an ejector discharging into the inter-condenser, a. second ejector receiving discharge from said inter-condenser and discharging into said after condenser, the condensate from all said tubes collecting in one of said end chests 1remote from said ejector connections.

31. The combination with a condenser shell, of inter and after condensers therein, each of said condensers comprising a plurality of tubes extending through said shell, chests on opposite ends of sait shells having compartments communicating with said tubes and connecting them in tandem with each other, an ejector discharging into the inter-condenser, a second ejector receiving discharge from said intercondenser and discharging into said after condenser, the condensatefrom all said tubes collecting in one ot said end chests remote from said ejector connections, and independent. condensate draw-offs communicating with dit'- ferent compartments ot' said last named chest for conducting away the condensates of said inter and after condensers, respectively.

n testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 6th day of May, 1920.

ROBERT SUCZEK.

Images